I asked Mike Archambault if he worked at Cedar Creek Cattle Company, his response was, "I am Cedar Creek Cattle Company". Within his ranch, located in Clarkrange Tennessee, he has established the New Beginnings Youth Ranch for high risk kids. Mike believes that in these troubled times, virtually all kids are high risk. He has a group of local kids, as well as 8 from another youth ranch, that are involved in his East Tennessee youth and yearling mustang challenge.
I met up with Mike this past week at a horse show in town. He had brought with him, 9 of 19 mustang yearlings, that he had bought from the BLM, or Bureau of Land Management. These horses are all tattooed, and come from Nevada. Mike had spent only 2 weeks with them, and had gotten them in halters, which I found amazing. He said none had ever been handled, and that they were completely wild when they arrived at the ranch.
Mike tells me that he bought these horses for a 90 day mustang youth challenge, to be held here in the Jamestown area of Tennessee. He says he has had many nay-sayers who have called him downright crazy. Why you say??? Well, Mike wants to pair up these wild horses with 19 at risk youth, with little to no, horse knowledge. These kids will be gentling these horses, teaching them manners, and ground handling skills. They will then show their horses and demonstrate the skills they have taught them. The best all around will win great prizes. and be able to keep their horse if they choose.
But back to the beginning...Mike says people were telling him he was crazy and frankly, Mike questiond his own sanity. So, being a Christian man, he set a bucket, up side down out in the paddock with these 19 untamed youngsters, sat down and started to pray. He was startled when one of these yearlings came out of now where, and licked him on the cheek. Mike felt that this was his validation.
The horses arrived at Cedar Creek on July 18, the youth challenge is Oct. 10, to be held at East Fork Stables, here in Jamestown. All the horses have been paired with their "handlers" and the work has begun.
Horses have an uncanny ability to mirror behavior, both good and bad. Treat them fairly and they will respond favorably, treat them unkindly and they will resist. Life's lessons for these kids, on how to show kindness, patience, grace and understanding. All part of the process of getting along in this world. Horses are wonderful teachers.
New beginnings is a Christian based organization, offering hope, life's lessons, and values that these at risk youth will carry with them for a lifetime.
For more information, to visit the ranch, or donate your time for this worthy cause, call Mike at (931) 260-1650. You can also check out New Beginnings on line at www.newbeginningsyouthranch.com.
Ask for Mike and tell him Kathy sent you!
